A classroom teacher’s view on homework

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When believing about homework, instructors find it beneficial to communicate their policy with the families of their trainees. After recently completing a Learners Edge course, Jennifer Lindsey, a fourth grade instructor from Pennsylvania, reviewed her research philosophy which includes the purposeful functions instructors and families play.

LE: What is your position on the issue of homework?
I address as a teacher and as the parent of school age children when I answer this question. I do see research as having a function in the educational process and I do not concur with Alfie Kohn (see short article), who appears to believe research is worthless, or even worse, has an unfavorable impact. While Kohn asserts there is almost no research study that proves homework to be beneficial, I did not see a persuading amount of difficult data to support doing away with all research.
Yes, the quantity of research must be based on the trainees age and grade level. As many Kindergarten-3rd grade instructors are self-contained, it ought to be relatively simple to offer mathematics homework one night, spelling or checking out one night, etc to avoid overloading 5 to 8-year-olds. I see research to extend knowing.
Our book points out it can take 24 repeatings of an ability for a student to reach 80% competency. Kohn points out how students might end up being much better at keeping in mind, however not believing. I see this as two different things; we require trainees to keep in mind certain facts and then move on to using those abilities as thinkers and issue solvers.
As a moms and dad, it can be difficult to squeeze in homework some nights! My own children have brought house tasks I thought too prolonged or improper for one night. We do the very best we can, and if we have issues or problems, I reach out to the teacher. Understanding some students have little or no assistance in the house should be acknowledged by educators. Again, great instructors make it an indicate understand what some home circumstances may be like and to customize appropriately. When possible, associates can work together, as described in two extra course articles, by establishing a discovering laboratory or integrating “Drop-In” times throughout the school day
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Research can be a divisive topic in the education community, and we hope you can appreciate this instructors perspective. We wish to hear your thoughts about homework. What is your philosophy? How do you communicate with families about homework?

I do see homework as having a function in the educational process and I do not agree with Alfie Kohn (see post), who appears to believe research is worthless, or even worse, has an unfavorable effect. While Kohn asserts there is nearly no research study that proves homework to be advantageous, I did not see a convincing amount of hard data to support doing away with all research.
Yes, the quantity of research need to be based on the students age and grade level. As many Kindergarten-3rd grade teachers are self-contained, it needs to be reasonably easy to give math research one night, spelling or checking out one night, etc to prevent overloading 5 to 8-year-olds. Homework can be a dissentious subject in the education community, and we hope you can value this teachers point of view.

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